Istanbul Restaurant Tips by H-TownJourneyman

Restaurant Name: Adem Baba

Arnavutköy is known for it's fantastic fish restaurants, and this has to be one of, if not the best! The restaurant itself is very casual, with a true "seafood" restaurant feel. Dark stained wood paneling lines the walls, with fish netting and old pictures of Arnavutköy hanging from them. The fish, of course what you came here for, is excellent! Very fresh, with many different kinds to choose from. They also have some delicious salads here, definately get one with the fish. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive, but for the non-Turkish speaker, it might be a good idea to just have a look at the fish first to order, not much English is spoken here. Nevertheless, a great restaurant, highly recommended!


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Theme: Seafood
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +90 212 263 29 33
Address: Satismeydani Sokak No:2
Directions: Both Adem Babas are located in Arnavutköy, 1 block in from the 1. Caddesi main street
Website: http://www.adembaba.com/

Restaurant Name: Otantik

This popular 4 story restaurant located on Istiklal Caddesi in Taksim is well known in Istanbul for it's great atmosphere, along with it's excellent cuisine. With a very traditional Anatolian decor, there are small tables along the walls, and floor seating on cushioned pillows with tables in the middle. The food is fantastic, and very reasonably priced. The kebap dishes here are a good pick, as well as the hingal potatoes with yogurt. Many locals come here for the food, and stay for many hours to chat with friends and sip on raki, a traditional Turkish liquor. If it is not to crowded, which is unlikely, especially in the evenings, try to get a table on the top level. The are some nice views of the Çiçek Pasaji below.

Favorite Dish: The gozlerne pancakes are delicious! They are pancakes filled with meat, cheese, and spices. Very good!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: +90 212 293 8451
Address: Istiklal Caddesi 170
Directions: Located on Istiklal Caddesi, directly in front of the Çiçek Pasaji

Restaurant Name: Mehtap Kafeterya

One morning while we were waiting for the Sakip Sabanci Museum to open, we walked over to this little restaurant for breakfast. It turned out to be a really good choice! Mehtap Kafeterya sits right on the main street along the the Bosphorus, with great views of the water. It is a quaint, classy place, mostly painted white inside, and with what I though was the most interesting decor detail - chairs with heart-shaped backs! There is also a patio area for sitting outside, which I am sure is lovely on warmer days, but when we were there, it was freezing and the wind was quite strong. The traditional Turkish breakfast we has was delicious, and very reasonably priced, consisting of bread and honey, eggs, cucumbers, cheeses, olives, and sliced meats. And of course plenty of Turkish tea to warm us up! A great place for breakfast, especially convenient if you are visiting the museum next door.


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Theme: Breakfast
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: +90 212 277 63 73
Address: Sakip Sabanci Caddesi No: 1
Directions: Located in Emirgan just north of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, along the main coastal street next to the Sakip Sabanci Museum

Restaurant Name: Taps Brewery & Restaurant

Taps is an American style restaurant and brewery located in the upscale district of Nisantasi. Being a frequent patron of places like this in the states, I thought I would see what an Istanbul version was like. When I entered, I felt like I was back home! Well, that is except for the fact that everyone was speaking a different language. :) The beer that I ordered, of course a home brew of Taps, was a light ale, and very tasty. They had I believe 7 or 8 different beers to choose from. The restaurant menu was quite extensive, everything from light appetizers and finger foods, to pizzas and pastas, as well as salads and full entrees. We ordered a Margherita pizza for the 3 of us, which was delicious, and very filling! The ambiance here was great, with several t.v.'s tuned to sports events positioned around the room, and the brewery tanks in view behind glass - standard brewery fixtures. It seemed that this place was a little more chic than breweries I was used to. But we were in Nisantasi, where most places are on the trendy side! The staff was also very nice and attentive, and spoke English, which is always a plus in my limited Turkish book! Great place, definately worth stopping in, whether it's for dinner, or just a beer or 2.


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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +90 212 296 20 20
Address: Tesvikiye Caddesi Atiye Sokak No: 5
Directions: Located in Nisantasi, near the Tesvikiye Mosque
Website: http://www.tapsistanbul.com/

Restaurant Name: Çiçek Pasaji

Çiçek Pasaji, or "Flower Passage", is an area with many nice restaurants that is located on the famous Istanbul avenue Istiklal Caddesi. It is actually a courtyard of the Cité de Péra building, which was one of many structures built in a more European style during the late 1800's. Originally Çiçek Pasaji was a location for glamorous shops & stores catering to the area's foreign population and more westernized culture. Then after many decades of decline, the entire building was renovated in the 1990's, and with it's former luster restored, many new restaurants opened up in the Çiçek Pasaji. The huge glass ceiling overhead allows sunlight to come through during the day. And then in the evening, the 19th century style streetlights add to the atmosphere of the many people dining at the tables located in the courtyard. Even if you don't eat here, it's a lovely place to walk through, especially at night when it is packed full of people!


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Theme: Other

Directions: Located on Istiklal Caddesi near Galatasaray Square, in the Beyoglu District

Restaurant Name: Kizilkayalar Hamburger

Kizilkayalar Hamburger is a great streetside hamburger stand, located in Taksim Square. It is a popular fast food choice for locals all during the day, as well as for a late night meal. The patties to me have a similar taste to Sloppy Joe's, which Americans are very familiar with. They are marinated in a tomato and garlic sauce, and the buns are super greasy with a lot of butter, giving them an excellent, totally unhealthy flavor! :) During lunch time and after midnight on the weekends they can get quite crowded, so be prepared in line for a little while. But it's worth it, and with the price being less than a couple of dollars for a burger, you can't go wrong with this quick and delicious street food!

Favorite Dish: The Hamburgers, of course!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: Located in Taksim Square

Restaurant Name: Saray Muhallebicisi

If you are looking for delicious Turkish desserts while Istanbul, this is one of the best places to go! Saray Muhallebicisi, which translated means "Rosewater Pudding Palace", is named after a popular treat enjoyed during Ottoman times. They have been in business since 1935, and now have several locations within Istanbul. Saray does in fact have a great, and quite extensive menu, including an excellent kofte meatball dish. But what they are renowned for are their pastries, and they are indeed mouthwatering! Ekmek Kadayifi, Tulumba, and of course, Baklava are some of their specialties, and my favorites. All of them are very sweet, with syrup poured on top - just enough sugar to give you a rush before you leave! :) Saray is definately a must for any person with a sweet-tooth!


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Theme: Dessert
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: +90 212 236 16 17
Address: Tesvikiye Caddesi No. 105
Directions: Located in Nisantasi, across from the Tesvikiye Mosque. Several other locations in Istanbul
Website: http://www.saraymuhallebicisi.com/

Restaurant Name: Ismailaga

If you are coming to Kanlica on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, chances are you are coming to try the famous yogurt. Ismailaga is one of the best places in Kanlica to try some! It is located right along the water, providing some excellent views of the many ships passing by, as well as the European side. Opened in 1871, it is a very old-fashioned looking cafe, with a fairly small indoor seating area, along with an outdoor patio area to enjoy the fresh air under the trees. Trying some of the yummy yogurt is a must, but they also have a fairly sizable menu as well, and of course Turkish coffee and tea. Definately a great place to visit if you are in Kanlica!


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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: Located in Kanlica, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus

Restaurant Name: Emek Kahve

This charming little cafe in Yeniköy, which has been in business since 1967, is situated right along the water. And when I say little , I mean just that. Inside it is quite small, but that seems to be the appeal of this place. Adorning the walls are endless pictures and newpaper articles about Turkey, especially Atatürk! There is also a small patio area as well, which i recommend, as it has very nice views of the Bosphorus. During cold days, like when we were there, they have lots of heat lamps postitioned overhead to keep you warm. The breakfast here is excellent! A traditional Turkish breakfast, consisting of breads, cheeses, sliced meat sausage, eggs, olives, cucumbers, and a delicious spicy tomato soup to eat with the bread. They have a few other dishes on the menu as well, including toast and cheese sandwiches, and hamburgers. And of course no meal would be complete here without Turkish coffee or tea! The staff here is really friendly, and apparently funny, but you have to be able to understand Turkish. My friends, who are Turkish, were laughing and joking with the waiter, while I was just sitting there clueless! :) It can get pretty crowded here, don't be surprised if you bump elbows with someone from another table. But this is all part of the atmosphere here. A great place for breakfast indeed!


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Theme: Breakfast
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: +90 212 223 77 28
Address: Köybasi Caddesi Daire Sokak
Directions: Located on the main coastal road in Yeniköy, just down the street from the Iraqi Consulate

Restaurant Name: Midpoint

Located along Bagdat Caddesi on the Asian side of the Istanbul, Midpoint serves up a delicious breakfast. The restaurant, which has a very modern, trendy decor, has seating inside the main part of the building, as well as an extended room completely surrounded by glass. This provides a nice setting for a meal without having to be outside, very pleasant on cold days. They also have a patio area directly in front, which would have to be quite enjoyable on days when the weather is nice. The breakfast we had was extremely tasty, consisting of breads with honey and cheeses, olives, cucumbers, eggs, and sliced meats and cooked sausage. The tea here was also very refreshing, but that might also have to do with the fact that it was so cold outside too! The waitstaff were very friendly and attentive, and spoke very good English, which i appreciated! I would certainly recommend Midpoint if you are in the Bagdat Caddesi area!


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Theme: Breakfast
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +90 216 360 40 71
Address: Bagdat Caddesi No: 356
Directions: Located along Bagdat Caddesi in the Saskinbakkal shopping area, near the Suadiye neighborhood
Website: http://www.midpoint.com.tr/